It all starts with an idea

Everything starts with an idea. Our idea for an intergenerational shared site, was invented more than 40 years ago. It is just new to our community. Our discussions have begun with investor types/partners to get this off the ground here in Brevard County. The rejections so far were: it was too new, it had a non profit component, they wanted to build a 100 bed facility vs our 30 bed facility. (The concept is not new, the NP component would pay a lease and the 100 bed facility sounded like warehousing to me).

At this point in time, there seems to be a separation between capitalism and innovation.

For the Record:

Milestones in the history of intergenerational programmes (IP)

1960-1970

The systematic development of IPs led to the appearance of new programmes organised by both local and State governments and foundations

1980’s

The systematic development of IPs led to the appearance of new programmes organised by both local and State governments and foundations

The publication of manuals explaining how IPs are organised helped to create sustainable long-term programmes

The publication of training manuals led to the appearance of the profes- sional figure of the intergenerational specialist

The establishment, in the United States, of Generations United, as the national agency supporting intergenerational initiatives, provided the opportunity to contact a spokesperson in Washington DC capable of promoting IPs and lobbying for legislative support for the issue

Generations Together, a centre of reference linked to the University of Pittsburgh, organised the first Intergenerational Certificate, providing an opportunity for many professionals to obtain accreditation in this new field

Some North American universities started to introduce intergenerational learning as part of their student syllabi; students had the opportunity to become involved in intergenerational projects as part of their practical training

1990’s

Development of IPs related to questions related to community development, individual involvement and intergenerational communities

The International Consortium for Intergenerational Programmes was created in 1999

Year 2000 on

2001. Creation of the Beth Johnson Foundation’s Centre for Intergenerational Practice, in the United Kingdom

2003. Launch of the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships (JIR), a journal created to promote communication in the intergenerational field. JIR exclusively publishes papers about practices, research and policies related to intergenerationality

2005. Creation of the Red de Relaciones Intergeneracionales of the Instituto de Mayores y Servicios Sociales (IMSERSO), in Spain (www. redintergeneracional.es)

2007. The universities of Pittsburgh, in the United States, and Lampeter, in Wales (United Kingdom) create IP training courses